Prenatal Nutrition in Virginia: A Weight-Inclusive, Intuitive Eating Approach
Pregnancy often comes with overwhelming food advice and pressure to “eat perfectly.” For many, especially those with a history of dieting or disordered eating, this can increase anxiety and disconnect from the body.
Supportive prenatal nutrition in Virginia focuses on nourishment, consistency, and trust. Not restriction or weight control.
What Is Prenatal Nutrition?
Prenatal nutrition supports:
Fetal growth and development
Maternal energy and mood
Iron levels and blood volume
Postpartum recovery and lactation
A weight-neutral, Intuitive Eating–aligned approach emphasizes regular eating, gentle nutrition, and flexibility as your body’s needs change throughout pregnancy.
Prenatal Nutrition With a History of Disordered Eating
If you have a history of:
Eating disorders
Chronic dieting
Body image distress
Anxiety around weight gain
Working with a trauma-informed eating disorder dietitian can help you navigate pregnancy in a way that feels safe, supportive, and free from diet culture. Prenatal nutrition does not need to trigger old patterns to be effective.
Gentle Guidelines for Pregnancy
Rather than rigid rules, focus on:
Eating every 2–4 hours when possible
Including carbohydrates, protein, and fats
Using prenatal vitamins to support
Honoring cravings, aversions, and energy levels
Letting “good enough” be enough
Prenatal Nutrition Is About Care, Not Control
Your body is not something to manage. It is something to support. Prenatal nutrition is about compassion, steadiness, and responding to your changing needs with trust.
Work With a Virginia Prenatal & Eating Disorder Dietitian
Embrace Nutrition Counseling offers virtual, weight-inclusive prenatal nutrition and eating disorder support across Virginia. Emilee Young, RDN, LD works from a trauma-informed, Intuitive Eating, and Health at Every Size® framework to support those navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and recovery from disordered eating.
Schedule a free discovery call with a Virginia-licensed prenatal and eating disorder dietitian.
